The David Leonhardt Jazz Group and the Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers to Perform Two Shows at the Arts Center

David Leonhardt is a critically acclaimed and highly popular jazz pianist who has appeared successfully at the International Arts Festival of Shenzen in China, the Winnipeg Jazz Festival, The French Maison de Dance in Lyon, as well festivals and concerts throughout the United States.  He has been heard at The Apollo Theater, The Blue Note, Birdland, The Village Gate and other New York area nightclubs.  He was musical director for jazz vocal legend Jon Hendricks for four years and has played for over fifteen years as the pianist in The David “Fathead” Newman Quartet.  Leonhardt has numerous CDs, under his own name, is the president of Big Bang Records, is on the Roster of The Pennsylvania Arts On Tour, and has performed with an array of jazz stars from Art Blakey to Benny Carter to Dave Liebman to Diane Reeves.

Nancy Reed, vocalist, is the daughter of a jazz pianist and an opera singer.  Reed grew up in Brooklyn amid the musically rich culture of New York City and has sung professionally for over twenty years, honing her skills in the clubs of New York and on tour in Europe and the Far East.  She has performed and recorded with such jazz greats as Phil Woods, Slide Hampton, David “Fathead” Newman and Bob Dorough, and has toured Japan, The United States, and Mexico.  A favorite of other vocalists as well, Nancy has sung back-up on numerous CDs, movie sound tracks, and commercial jingles.

Joining Leonhardt will be Matthew Parish on bass. A rising star of the jazz bass, Parrish has performed with Clark Terry, Marian McPartland and Harry "Sweets" Edison and recorded with Regina Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, Mickey Roker, Bobby Durham, Shirley Scott, Al Grey, Stefon Harris, and Greg Osby. He has performed on four continents and is a regular on the Philadelphia jazz scene and numerous jazz recordings.

Jay Rattman, a fantastic multi instrumentalist who has performed with Bill Dobbins, Chris Potter, Ingrid Jensen, Bob Lark, Phil Woods, and Jim McNeely, among others, will join the group. Rattman received a Merit Award in the 2006 NFAA ARTS awards in the jazz saxophone category and was a 2006 winner in the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Awards.

Paul Wells rounds out the quintet on drums.  A native of Pittsburgh, Wells has been an in demand percussionist on the New York jazz scene for years.  He has performed and recorded with a many jazz greats and was recently the drummer on a national tour with rocker Debbie Harry of Blondie fame   He also holds the drum chair in The Duke Ellington Legacy Band.  A versatile musician with years of experience, he has performed with Joe Williams, Norman Simmons, Randy Brecker, Eric Alexander, Larry Goldings, Rufus Reid, Mark Murphy, Rick Margitza, Dave Valentin, and Houston Person.

Joining Dave Leonhardt Jazz Group will be the internationally acclaimed Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers, who
consistently draw raves for "lightning speed footwork," "rapid-fire taps," and "entertaining, extended improvisations." Shelley

Oliver, a Canadian born tap dancer, choreographer, and educator has appeared internationally with some of the legends in the tap world.  She is a founding member of the popular dance ensemble Manhattan Tap and was co-artistic director and choreographer with the company.  A noted soloist, Ms. Oliver has toured extensively throughout Europe, China, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States. Her television appearances include Tap Dance in America with Gregory Hines, and Star Search.  Ms. Oliver has appeared with such tap notables as Savior Glover, Jimmy Slide, Buster Brown, Steve Condos, and Chuck Green. She has also performed with many great jazz musicians including Slide Hampton, David “Fathead” Newman, Robin Eubanks, and Kenny Washington.

Rebekkah Brown, a native of Pennsylvania, began performing as a three-year- old in theater and dance.   A skilled choreographer and dancer, Ms. Brown has choreographed for Muhlenberg Summer Music Theater’s productions of Cabaret, Brigadoon, South Pacific, and Guys and Dolls, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.   She has won numerous awards for tap dancing, teaches dance and creative drama, and holds a degree in Theater and Dance from Muhlenberg College.

Jenny Lynn Peters, a graduate of Muhlenberg College with a B.A. in theater/dance, has been seen on the National Tour of 42nd Street and in Wisconsin Dells, WI where she performed in American Musical Celebration, an all singing all dancing musical revue at Broadway in the Dells.   Favorite roles include Little Red in Into the Woods and Hildy in On the Town, both of which earned her Irene Ryan Nominations. She has worked with choreographers such as Germaine Salsburg, Rick Conant, and Randy Skinner.  Peters is currently on faculty with Stagestruck Performing Arts Center (New Providence, NJ) where she can be found teaching drama and dance.

Emily Newman, an upcoming tap star, was a member of Brenda Buffalino’s American Tap Dance Orchestra, and regularly performs in New York City and Philadelphia.  She also regular tours with the Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers.

Jeremy Arnold, a senior at Muhlenberg College, was a member of the Tap City Youth Ensemble under the direction of the American Tap Dance Foundation.  He appeared on the sixth season of Fox's hit television show, So You Think You Can Dance, where he advanced to the Las Vegas callbacks.  He is a current cast member in Mike Wittmers' production of Scuff'd Up!  Most recently, Jeremy had the opportunity to choreograph Merrily We Roll Along here at Muhlenberg College.

As part of the Randolph County Community Arts Center’s Outreach program, performers from the Family and the Evening Concert Series will present 18 concerts and workshops in area schools and community settings.  Dave Leonhardt will perform at the Randolph County Senior Center on Friday morning and the full group will perform at Beverly Elementary on Friday afternoon.  On Saturday morning, in the Great Hall of the Arts Center, Dave Leonhardt will present a Jazz workshop for the students in the RCCAC lab band program, as well as other interested middle and high school music students from the community.

Tickets for the 4:00 Family Series show are all $5.  Tickets for the 7:30 Evening Series show are $15 for adults; $13 for seniors; and $5 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the RCCAC office by phone at (304) 637-2355, with credit or debit card, or at the door while they last. Doors will open thirty minutes before show time.

Sponsors for the Family Concert Series and the Evening Concert Series, as well as the RCCAC Outreach Program, are Allegheny Insurance, The Inter-Mountain, WDNE Radio, FirstEnergy Foundation, Graceland Inn and Conference Center, Family Dental Practice, Davis Health Systems, Parrack Insurance, and several anonymous donors. In addition, the series are funded by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, as well as Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour (a program developed and funded by The Heinz Endowments), the William Penn Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (a state agency), and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.